Getting a healthy, sound, well bred, well adjusted Labrador Retriever as a loving family member for the life of the dog.

Being a part of a breeding program that is dedicated to giving its customers puppies from the best pedigreed, healthy and sound sires/damns and family dogs.

The Captain’s Labs pays for all required health clearances and breeding expenses.

Getting a puppy of your own to keep (see your contract for details) from your hosted Lab. The puppy is placed as a companion with a spay/neuter agreement, to be kept within your own family only and not for resale, so that you, too, can enjoy the next generation of The Captain’s Labradors!

If we show your co-owned dog, we'll provide you with show photos and "bragging rights," too!

What are the responsibilities of a host family?

For females: The Family must live within a 200 mile radius from The Captain’s Labs (see Lake Shore, Minnesota) . For males: The family must be within 45 miles of Lake Shore, MN (we need access to the boys more often than we do the girls).

The dog must be a family dog, not be raised in an outdoor kennel or chained up in any way.

The host must have a secure, safe living environment so the dog does not run away, get hurt or impregnated by another dog.

For females: The host must agree to send the female to The Captain’s Labs to be bred at our facility or for The Captain’s Labs to take the female to the stud’s location (usually requiring about 5-10 days). The female will be returned to the host’s home after the breeding, until shortly before pups are due. As a general rule, we will want to breed 2-3 litters from a female - your individual contract will reflect number of litters, etc. In most cases, you are welcome to a puppy from her 3rd litter (if she has been raised by you and / or in your care at the time of all three breedings).

For Males: The host must allow us access to the male as needed for breedings, and be willing to take the dog to a veterinarian for semen collection and shipping, if requested (fees pd. by The Captain's Labradors). Males are to be kept intact for their lifetime, unless special arrangments are agreed upon by both parties. If the male is used for 3 or more breedings once in your care, you are welcome to one puppy from one of his litters (see your contract for details).

The host must make the commitment to send the female to The Captain’s Labs two weeks before the pups are due and plan to leave the female with The Captain’s Labs until the pups are weaned and go home (reach about 8 weeks of age)**OR** learn, with the assistance and approval of The Captain’s Labs, about puppy whelping and delivery and raise the pups until they reach selection age (7 ½ to 8 weeks) when they will be placed with their families and / or go home to The Captain's Labrdors. At selection age, the pups will then be brought to The Captain’s Labs for customers to pick up.

The host must agree to regular contact with The Captain’s Labs on the dog’s status. We want to keep in touch.

If we feel the dog has potential in the show ring, we may ask for the family to allow us access to ''borrow"'' the Labrador now and then for the purpose of attending shows. We'll let you know up front if the puppy / dog is a show prospect and what to expect.

A contract will be signed by the host before the dog is released to them. Thank you!

Why does The Captain’s Labradors want to place their dogs with other families?

Because we truly love our dogs, we want them to be able to enjoy a full life, which includes lots of one on one attention and time with a family. The Captain’s Labradors breeds with the main purpose being to improve our lines with each generation, and to enhance and continue our own breeding program. For this reason, we wish to either keep or have access to at least one puppy from each litter bred in order to carry on our lines. Of course, when caring for many dogs, it is difficult to give each of the dogs the attention we feel the dog needs. By working with host families in this manner, we are able to carry on our great pedigrees and the dogs are able to love and be loved by wonderful folks! We believe this is a win-win-win situation for us, for the family, and most importantly, for the Labs!

These pups (or dogs) are placed at significantly reduced price (usually $200), and when they are retired from breeding, they are spayed and neutered (the co-owner is responsible for this) and then permamently reside with their co-owners for the balance of their lives.